Road bike helmet recommendations

I've been using a Bell XR spherical for road and gravel the last year, no complaints. Padding ample enough for me

I tried a lot of roadie helmets before settling on a Specialized Prevail II.  It’s so good I bought it again after an accident which cracked one.  

I have an oval head that suits Giro helmets as well as Abus helmets.

I still have a new Giro in its box because I've not commuted for three years, but my Bordeaux red Abus Gamechanger has been great on my road and more recently my gravel ebike for almost five years (very little use in '23 and '24 and out of direct sunlight when not worn, so should be good for another couple of years).

So comfy, aero yet breathable.

Not sure you'll get one as cheap as the ~£70 I paid ~5 years ago from Amazon though!

I was considering an abus but don’t want to end up ordering loads just to find they strip the hair from my head just the same but I think I may end up having to and just accepting it because all mips seem to be the same. 

Kask? I have a super light Protone which has their version of MIPS. Doesn't have the slidey bit on the cradle so not entirely sure how it works but Mr G should help. It also doesn't catch my hair coz I don't have any 😆 

Having spent a decade in KASK Mojito's, I recently bought a MET Rivale MIPS and was immediately reminded of just how good MET helmets were and how annoyed I was at the time when they ceased official distribution in the UK back in about 2014 for the forseeable future... Thankfully back in the UK and Extra UK doing a good job of making sure they're available... But yes, the Rivale MIPS... Highly recommended... 👍 

There's lots of helmets going cheap on Sport Pursuit at the moment (I recently bought a Limar one from there and it seems decent). It might just be me but I'd say avoid the Endura FS260 that's on sale in a lot of places, at least for me it just didn't work with Oakley Radars and a couple of other glasses I tried, they'd push the arms into the top of my ears (nice helmet otherwise for the money though).

I wear a Lazer Z1 Kineticore on the road.  Never had an issue with it tugging my long locks and because the fit adjuster is on top of the helmet it doesn't interfere with my ponytail.

I have the Van Rysel RCR helmet AND the more aero FCR version. They're absolutely brilliant for the price, no issues with hair interfaces and very comfortable / ventilated. Look the part too for less than half of what you'd pay elsewhere / used by the Decathlon team.  

I bought the aero one initially for "Going out cycling", and then I got the other one for commuting with just so I have a spare in case I crash or it gets caught in a door or whatever. Still spent £50 less than a Specialized Evade. 

The non-aero one looks quite similar to the Kask Protone.

I wear a Planet X , not for you if you want to pay for a name but quality lid for £15

I’ve got two Kask Protones that fit me well. 

I'll end up only buying something that's been through the virginia tech rating and get's a 4 and above, my brain is worth that.

Not sure about the Virginia tech rating, but id go for the abus game changer.  I have the non mips version and it's ace

MIPS and hair pulling...

Some of the newer "MIPS" systems are done differently, with a foam layer within a foam layer... not a floating plastic hair and scalp shredder!

Sorry, I'm not sure which manufacturers have adapted this technique!

I still argue that MIPS is unnecessary in a road or xc helmet (your scalp and hair provide a natural slip plane) although I acknowledge being in the minority on that 🙂

Having looked since posting this you’re right in that I’m eliminating any where it’s the original cradle system instead going for companies who have done it that way. I just think if there’s a chance my brain would be more protected in the event of a crash it’s worth it. I’ve had concussion after crashing my mtb going 30 ish and landing on my head and it was very unpleasant